Eat, sleep, breathe, drink, Arsenal

By now you will probably have caught at least the highlights of what was a devastating performance against a side of as yet unknown ability. If you are an Arsenal member I would take the opportunity to watch at very least the first half of the match in it’s entirety. That is what I intend to do later. At the moment all I have is memories, possibly enhanced by the power of delicious alcohol.

There can be few better feelings known to man than to emerge from the darkness into the Holloway Road sunshine in early Autumn. A ten minute stroll to the pub and the opening salvo is fired by Lars credit card. Half of Sweden has turned up. Three hours later we are treated to a masterclass of fluidity and attacking intent. The headline of the preview proved prophetic. Call me mystic ‘holic.

I was surprised to see Francis Coquelin take up the place vacated by the rested Abou Diaby, but that freed Mikel Arteta to join forces with Santi Cazorla. Ahead of them, or should I say around them, the forward trio exchanged places, rendering them impossible to mark. Lukas Podolski was hugging the touchline one minute, directing operations from the centre circle the next. Gervinho revelled in the freedom and more often than not popped up centrally to cause panic in the Saints defence.

The front three were quick to clear the flanks to create space for the full-backs to join in the fun, and it was Kieran Gibbs who set up the first goal, somewhat clumsily helped over the line via the Saints ‘keeper and defender Hooiveld. On the half hour it was two. Perhaps the defence anticipated a Cazorla strike, but instead Podolski lifted a free-kick perfectly into the top corner. In full flow Arsenal are just a pleasure to watch. The Saints defenders joined the audience, unable to prevent Gervinho from applying the finishing touch to a superb Arteta through ball. Another Gibbs break, another own goal. Four up in 37 minutes. Devastating stuff.

Then as our thoughts turned to the half-time queues for refreshments and comfort breaks we were reminded of our mortality. Wojciech Szczesny spilled a hopeful far post cross from Puncheon and Fox gave the visitors a consolation that must have surprised even them. The home support, on their best behaviour throughout, resisted the urge to inform the recalled ‘keeper that “Vito Mannone, he would have saved that”. All bar one tormented soul, with nothing else to vent his spleen about on the day, who chose the half-time whistle as an opportunity to provide an impromptu and brief appraisal of the young Pole, sharing with him very loudly that he had failed to comply with the terms and conditions of his employment vis a vis his inability to adhere to the basic requirements of his job description. Or words to that effect. You get the gist of it.

I preferred to spend my half-time day-dreaming about one sublime moment of breathtaking skill when Cazorla killed a ball rejoining the earths orbit from on high with the deftest of touches that doubled as an inch-perfect pass. The neighbour agreed that although we talk of this team not having any individual shining lights, the little Spaniard is destined to become the one. He is a joy to watch. What a signing, boss.

Perhaps mindful of the stiffer opposition on the horizon there was a distinct feeling that the infamous handbrake was applied after the break. The introduction of Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud, and Theo Walcott in the final stages reignited the attacking threat. Rambo hit the post and watched on as Gervinho followed up to grab his second of the day. In the final minute Theo made it six and out before joining the Ox in applauding the visiting supporters.

So third place is where we are ahead of meetings with Manchester City and Chelsea in the coming fortnight. We may be unsure about the qualities of our last two victims, but by the end of September we will have a much clearer idea of our title potential. Arsene shared that view afterwards.

“We will know more about our team then but there is a positive energy in this team, a desire to play well together, and real team play. It is very exciting.”

The City State of Singapore is many different things to many different people. To some, it’s a bougainvillea strewn tropical paradise where exotic birds and butterflies flit. To others it’s an opulent metropolis where untold wealth struts in a medley of Bentleys, Lambos, Ferraris and gazillion dollar apartments. And for those of an outback inclination, it’s a concrete prison that has them screaming “Get me off this Island!”

Nestled in the heart of the city, in The Elizabeth, a dignified hotel, modest by Singaporean standards, is the spiritual home of all Singaporean Gooners, “The Liz”. A little piece of London N7, decked magnificently in Arsenal memorabilia, The Liz is a special little community. It is a passion filled melting pot of cultures, genders and generations who convene for one purpose only on every match day, to celebrate London’s finest, the mighty Arsenal.

Last night, the Sumatran trade winds spirited me from Shanghai into The Liz’s warm embrace on the wings of a Singapore Airlines 777. It was my second visit and it was great to be welcomed back. “Great to see you, BtM”.

Gooners there are draped in Arsenal tops going right back down through the years. Most of the new blue necks proudly sport Podolski , Giroud and Cazorla’s names. My new Wishere 10 hasn’t yet arrived, so it was Fabregas 4 for me. (Last year’s RvPrick 10 is consigned to seal duty on the overflow pipe of my septic sewage tank in Virginia – all bids welcome, buyer pays freight).

The Liz applauded heartily as the teams walked out before bursting spontaneously into a chorus of Chim Chiminee…as Arsenal kicked off, surprisingly minus Ollie G, hero of the song.

There is an exciting vibrancy to this current Arsenal eleven that has been missing in recent seasons. Nobody embodies that more, in terms of drive and physical passion than Lukas Podolski.

And so it was no surprise to see our LFG, wrestle the ball back from an apparently lost cause before slipping it wide to Gibbsy for One Nil to The Arsenal. “Lu, Lu, Lu,…” rocked The Liz. And that rock riff exploded into a “Whole Lotta Love” when Poldi nearly burst the net for number two. With Cazorla at the heart of everything, the likelihood that Saints would be hit for six was high and, as Holic has recounted so well, that transpired to the absolute delight of all.

Great credit to Southampton. They came to play, unlike Pubis at home or so many of the sad sack bus parkers that turn up at The Emirates. And even at 4-0 were still fighting hard, as they did right to the end.

Time to go home. As I left I heard a dad asking his young Gooner “So it was 6-1, how many points does that mean for us?” “Em, six?” replied the little lad. No, it just felt like that.

A wander down Scott’s Road, in the warmth of the dark night, past many pretty ladies in high heels and short skirts. ”Would you like a nice time, honey?” “I’ve just had one, love and I’m hurrying home to see the highlights”.

Singapore Slings all round please, barkeeps and a haddock on me for TaBS. Hats off to The Liz! Thanks for a great night.

What a wonderful read on a Sunday morning.
Can’t see my little Russian sweetheart ousting the big German fecker any time soon! He is quite some player.101 caps at 27 years old? How did he not cost £40+ million .And that little Cazorla fellow is > Silva,and Silva is a superstar by the way.

Bang on again, ‘holic – even though I’ve only seen the first half so far.

Lovely atmospheric report, BTM

****
@ Trev

FunGunner seems to think that if I consider £123.50 a bit steep for my seat at a Category A game, then I should stop going to games.

Well FunG, when you’ve been going to matches since it cost £1.10 to stroll onto the North Bank, you maybe understand those sentiments a little better.

Patronising, and the “point” doesn’t even make sense! We both think £123.50 is a hell of a lot. I have explained that if people keep buying tickets at that price, the club will keep charging that price.
If you don’t think it’s worth it, don’t pay it. There are other games for which the tickets are cheaper.

***
@ TaBS
From the other day, I am stating for the record that I take strong exception to your implication that I am making up things, or attempting to mislead. Everything I put forward as fact *is* fact, and I can back it up. I also made it clear when what I said was conjecture. The only error I made was referring to Tom Fox when I actually meant Mark Gonnella.
I don’t wish to re-open the argument but if you do, I suggest you first re-read the original blog post, your comments, my comments and watch the press conference to which I was referring. The quotes posted here from the presser don’t give the full picture because they don’t include the questions.

Goonerholic, I know you don’t allow fights in the bar, so I apologise if this oversteps the mark. I tried to put it behind me at the time, however a sense of injustice is still nagging at me a few days later. The most important thing for me was making it clear that I was not being misleading, I just felt very strongly about that.

Great, great day. Marvellous meeting up with so many fine Arse fans again (you know who you are), on a sunny Saturday afternoon and watching the new team shine.
Though in the absence of Dr. Zee, Top Man Snowy and TS there was a wee fun-shaped hole in the days proceedings – and I don’t even know what a fun-shaped hole looks like…

Surprised to see Piers Morgan in the concourse before the game, with his money I figured he was a Diamond Geezer (or at least Club level) – still fair play he had his son with him so he his doing the right thing there..

Oooh bad move, as a decorated veteran of The Battle of The Boilk, I strongly suggest you employ the tried and tested hair of the dog stratrgy or a flanking manouvere cointaining the revitalising power of a BM combined with the frying of the greasiyist fattyist contents of the fridge.

With great anticipation, Gooner Kevin and I walked up from Kings Cross in the sunshine and on reaching the Liverpool Rd detoured to the Duchess of Kent. I only just made my seat for the kick-off, the Adnams having detained us as we had built up quite a thirst.

The first 45 mins had you smiling with admiration of seeing Wengerball at its best, sharp ,crisp passing ,at speed, with an end result. Perfect, well almost, had it not been for my friend Szczesny and his blunder at the far post. He looked nervous from the start, a couple of errant clearances doing nothing for his confidence and he needs to sharpen up for Tuesday and our visit to City.

The understanding of our new boys with their team mates has come on a treat and we can expect further improvement in the weeks to come. Let’s not forget that most of the squad had been on their international travels and not under AWs control since our last game.

The second half started with us resting on our laurels and Southampton gave it a real go but the defence remained firm and Arteta and Le Coq reverted to their defensive duties. I thought AOC looked tired and energy levels dropped until the introduction of Rambo and Theo. We finished with a flourish , a pity Ramsey’s great effort ,which hit the post, didn’t result in giving him a much needed goal, he certainly deserved one.

This was a wonderful team performance and I really wouldn’t like to single out a MOTM, perhaps I would give it to Arsene for his brave decision to give Gervinho the lead striker’s role. Southampton are going to struggle this season in the PL, the real test of our potential lies in the the fortnight to come, starting on Tuesday. I for one am optimistic of us making a sustained challenge for silverware this campaign and can’t wait to see us put the Oilers well and truly in their place!

Well reported and a good point made that we cannot judge the value of this win yet. Through their United and City results it looks a great win but perhaps the Wigan score (a 2-0 home defeat) suggests Saints will struggle. Nevertheless am I not the only one very relieved that Lambert steered that sitter wide early in the second hal? I’m not totally convinced that the conventional wisdom that Bouldy has fixed the defence is completely true. The team shape is much better but we did still look a bit vulnerable in the second half and if your goalkeeper keeps dropping bread and butter crosses no good will come of it.
But I am being churlish.The football in the first half was sublime and as Holic says Cazorla is a wonderful footballer. We have a proud line of great playmakers-James ,Logie,Eastham,Brady,Bergkamp/Pires and Fabregas to which he is already clearly a very worthy heir. Its a pleasure to watch him play.He judges the pace and angles of his passes so beautifully and I continually saw him effortlessly scurry into space . He and Podolski are very much on a wavelength that Arteta clearly also operates on and Gibbs on the left was very alive to opportunities. Ramsey also looks a much happier bunny than the player who was shamefully booed at the end of last season and Mertesacker showed why he has 70 plus caps for Germany.The boy exudes calmness and poise.
This is a good scenario and the next two League games will indicate if Wenger has worked the oracle again. Experience suggests there is a long way to go before we can be considered long-term challengers for the Premiership but hope springs eternal and going through the gears in the first half yesterday it felt very good to be back watching the lads play football as it should be played.

That feeling when you have a 9 hour BBQ, fall asleep whilst your wife cleans up the whole house, dodge the hangover I do thoroughly deserved and watch the highlights of an amazing display with 6 goals rattling in?

I thought the defence did well and had a good shape, we also defended as a unit, a factor missing in previous campaigns. I’ve now watched the game three times and we look better everytime.

I thought the Lambert chance was a bit of a fluke, the guy who fed him in took a shot that went wrong, that was never a cross, plus Woj came out and made himself big well and that was their only real chance. Admitedly our friend Schezzer didn’t have his best day at the office but I thought those in front of him were solid.

Seems years since we last played football like that. Even Vermaelen wanted to get his share of the spoils. Nice nd six-y football. Man city beckons tho. Minus Yaya they’ll jst be another saint…wonderful read. Thanx ‘holic.

Yup – gotta agree with H2H there – we looked well solid. That lot barely troubled us all afternoon. The team (and most of the supporters in the ground, as far as i could tell) don’t appear to get jittery this season when we lose the ball; they get back behind it quickly and work hard to win the thing again. It’s great to see.
Of course there’s much tougher oppo awaiting in the wings, but i can’t help being right excited by that prospect at the mo

Holic, Santi smiles, his eyes light up and he plays with such abandon. He is a fan of the game. So yes, agree with you and ‘the neighbor’ most emphatically. A most enjoyable read Sir, tempered only by your line ‘The Saints’ defenders joined the audience’ ( Vincent Kompany flashed before my eyes, when I read that!). But for now, I too wish to bask awhile longer in the after glow.

I’m not taking sides in a discussion that has nothing to do with me, but I just did a quick calculation and I think the amount stated in the post above would of covered my admission to Highbury for at least my first three seasons, would of probably been able to get a programme for each match too.

Isn’t it funny how last year this time, a lot of people thought of us as a more functional team, and here we are, with one new boy (Cazorla), a LANS and some shortly-to-be LANS, and the style is back. It’s very hard not to get very excited, even though the head tells you there are bound to be tough times ahead.

Heh! at the hater who remonstrated with Sir Chez. Reports that Bouldie has had him hung, drawn and quartered with his gizzard dangling form Highbury Towers are probably a tad wide of the mark. I do fear for our No.1 though. Did you see Bouldie’s face after their goal? It would have made our own Verminator think twice.

Trev from the previous drinks – A mystery injury indeed but hopefully not as lengthy as Tommy’s or Jack’s. I realise that I will be fighting for my place when declared match fit again and will bring my own cushion for the bench.

BtM @ #5 – Quality mate.

Mr. Eddie Q – GREAT to see you in here young man. Please don’t be a stranger.

Delia and And Lester – same goes for you two.

So…. should we beat and/or keep clean sheets vs the two petroclubs AND Montpellier, how long before we get carried away and the ‘Q word’ (no, not you Ed) gets mentioned?

Cazorla may turn out to be Wenger’s best signing since the days of Henry, Pires and co. When you think Real Madrid spent more than twice as much on Modric, when Santi was right under their noses, it does make a smile break out on even this grizzled old fizzog.

I just hope Wenger resists all temptation to rotate, especially in defence. I don’t really care how good Sagna and Koscielny have been in the past, the guys playing now should stay together barring injuries.

Well, as I predicted OG got a brace. Too bad Giroud was on the bench while his initials were scoring!
I still love the score line and the mystic ‘Holics premonition. Obviously, his mysticism is more honed than mine. All I saw was an OG brace and well, I misinterpreted that.

Great reports from the usual suspects.
BtM, especially enjoyed todays travel blog and the worldwide Gooners!

Think it’s fairly safe to say i will be TS…
Still, have been poping in for the odd ‘alf here and there but due to a busy summer and a desire to keep away from the tranny bunkum – not as oft as i’d have liked.

And have to confess I got some o’ me Arse kix this summer on twitter (sorry Zee) where there’s been some refweshingly balanced chit-chat re our mighty club well away from the hysterical gaze of the parasitic swivel-eyed knuckle dragging self-promoting goons at le gormless and the happy-clappy talibanner-waving cultishly needy one-eyed Arse-nazis.

Anyway now the phoney off-season war’s over and the real action’s begun there really is no place like here amongst the
regulars/reprobates.

Wonderful write up Holic – best of the season so far: like the game yesterday. I don’t disagree that Carzola is destined to be the stand-out player in this team. He certainly has been the stand-out player so far. But I think that he – and Poldi and Geroud – are fortunate to be playing in a team that has suddenly matured as last season’s new boys have found their feet.

I am on record as saying that I believed that this is the team. This team! This team will vindicate Le Boss and wipe away all our frustrations. Once the Boss returned to his tried & tested formula of buying the best Wenger-type players available on the market to blend with our home-grown gems I knew we were about to end the misery. The clearing out will prove to be a crucial as the purchasing of the new players.

Trev,
Their adaptation to the league and team are very impressive and have unfortunately led to some of the “pressure” that is being placed on Giroud. He will get there it may just take a little longer. As long as others are scoring I am thrilled to let Giroud adjust. He may play very well against Montpellier. He is probably more familiar with how they play than he is with us. A nice place for him to get on the scoresheet.
A credit should go to AW, he wanted Santi last year and was very close. The fact that we got a second chance at him was just AWesome. Also with Poldi and Santi settling in quickly is a credit to AW and the team as well.

Trev @ 91; Happy Sunday to you and all Holics in the bar mate .. The point about Podolski and Carzola adapting quickly must have something to do with the change of tactics. Its seems that the team as a whole has adapted to the 4-2-3-1 very well this season in that their movement, as well as, the pace & timing of the runs into the 18-yard box. The team is also finding more space because of the fluidity of their positioning is making it almost impossible for the opposition to mark them or close space down. Sitting deeply as the midfield now does “draws” the defence out of shape when we break at pace all across the park suddenly. Having Carzola and Poldi’s mobility and ability to find the late runs into the box with either foot is killing teams at the moment – long may it last..

What a fantastic way to spend a Saturday. Early morning football training in the bright September sun. Not quite supping in the Singapore Lizzie but Ongar still has it’s place on a Saturday morning. Then home, shower and hot the Central Line. I brief chat with some QPR fans followed as we shared jokes about Terry and Cashley. Mutual best wishes exchanged we exited to head to The Grove.

The little man in tow meant that the Tollie was out of range for me sadly. One day they will see fit to allow well behaved saucepans into the garden. This however meant that the normal stop at Fat Harry’s was on the cards and then a dash to ensure that the pint and pie chaser special offer was taken care of.

What followed was truly mouth-watering at times. I could not agree more with the bosses suggestion that you just watch and purr over the first half again. Some wonderful football and some great interchanging of passes. Four well deserved goals only slightly dampened by a Shezza howler.

The second half was a calmer affair. The game was already won and the crowd had long since relaxed despite still being vocal. Another great bit of defending by Per was greeted with the usual BFG song. He is becoming a real folk hero in these parts although the little man with me just turned, smiled and said “best we don’t tell Mummy about the one?” Best you don’t son was my reply. What goes at football, stays at football. He got as he started on the last of his bag of sweets.

An easy victory in the end was only soured for me by the complete batch of about 3 wankers who sit behind me who booed to the rafters when Theo took the field. I am going to write to the club and suggest that their seats are fitted with the same device that the seat Graham Norton uses for his guests on hi annoying chat show. I would happily eject those ignorant twats many many miles into the sky. Their silence spoke volumes as Theo managed to stroke the sixth home.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon. We are definitely making massive strides in the right direction. For me the side this season just has a far better shape and balance about it. We just seem more organised to me. Players seem to know where they should be and what their jobs are. I was never sure that that was the case last season. I must say that I agree with those above re Podolski. He looks an absolute bargain. A great eye for goal and a fantastic work rate. For anyone who is still not sure about Carzorla don’t just watch what he does when he is on the ball. Watch his movement when he does not have the ball. A lesson for any young player.

All in all a great result. We now have 3 tough games that will determine exactly where we are and how far we have come. Montpellier followed by Citeh and the Chavs will be no easy run of games. Come out of that unscathed and who knows what may lurk around the corner?

BTM @ 5Top notch as usual.
H2H @45,
Only 3 seasons,!!
When my Old man first started taking me,that would have covered 5 seasons,and a slap up Fish and Chip Supper afterwards.!!
Forget Montpellier,because it is going to be fascinating to see what first 11 the Boss sends out at the Etihad next Sunday.
Barring Sagna at right back,whoever he picks for the City game,barring any injuries midweek,will give us a firm indication of who he thinks are the players he most trusts to start the big games.
There could be more than a few of our players getting a reality check come Sunday.

Steve T
great report mate.
I must admit i get all nostalgic when i read about you and the little fella.
Brings back many great memories of Highbury trips with dearly departed Old fella.
Many seasons of going to home games with him when i was a little ‘un.
Stopping off at his favorite Caff for a mug of tea and a roll with a cheese wedge the size of a plate stuck in it.!!
Then a stroll up to the Cross after the game for fish and chips and the evening paper with all the results.
Never forget them.
Cheers
The Sweeper.

One final point about Flipper’s second. How nice to actually have someone following up?????? That is definitely something that is a real positive step. How many times have we missed an opportunity to score just because there has been no one there to capitalise?

Well done on the hundred Steve. Shame about the tossers behind you at the Ems but unfortunately it has always been and more than likely will remain a part of the “game” for the forseeable future.
Clive @ 99…been trying to remember what the entrance fee was in the late 50s / sixties – I have a figure of 4s 6d (22p) logged in my brain (what remains of it anyway) – what figure do you recall? After the game a 30 min walk home and pick up the london evening paper (yes on a Saturday) that had all the results in the stop press. I think the world has moved on a little in the meantime.:-)

Evening sweeper. Thanks for reminding me of Mick’s restaurant at the Barn and the plate of liver and bacon followed by syrup pudding pre-match with the old chap. Long time ago, but still I can taste it.

Ah, the Theo booing. Didn’t hear it from where we were, but there was some disquiet being expressed at the hook for Gervinho bearing in mind he was on a hat-trick, and maybe needs the boost that would have given him?

BTM 5 – another top class report. The “lizzie” seems much more fun than the Singapore cricket club which I visited when I last was in that bustling but so organised city.
H2H….many hehs..you are on top form….what tipple has fed the brain’s humour cells;-)

I agree re Gerv. I was as surprised as anyone I guess to see his starting position. However I thought he probably had one of his best games in an Arsenal shirt. He did not look happy at going off but with the games to follow it is perfectly understandable.

Like H2H I am loathe to interrupt what is turning out to be a wonderful punch up between Trev and Fungooner but I just want to mention that I agree with Trev that a hundred and twenty three quid fifty is a fucking lot of money considering that I could kit myself out with 1 pair Tesco Bommers, 1 pair Stay press, 4 pairs of Ben Shermans, 1 pair of Harringtons for less money. If I really remembered correctly I would have some change left over for my share of the minicab to take us to the Tott’num Royale on a Sunday evening not unlike this one where we’d try to pull the Spud birds while their knuckle-dragging boyfriends do endless rounds of the Moonstomp.

Lovely report as always. FYI, The Tollie does let littl’uns in, just not on match days, so if there should be another U21s game at The Ems this season you could take STJ there before the game. The Thai kitchen is really good and does traditional fayre too.

A nice report from Holic and the drinks, I was late for the match so ended watching it at a pub where they were showing both the manure game and ours, the former was on full sound while ours was on silent so I kept being distracted every few mins by the noise.

A truly magnificent game, the only blot being we conceded a very stupid goal, hope lessons have been learnt and that Chezzer will perform better in the coming tougher fixtures having shaken off the rust.

Morning Ollie
Coming off a long spell,so not up to full speed yet,need a few more games under my belt [ bit like Diaby ] before i hit top gear.!!
Lars,you certainly picked a great day to visit the Ems,glad you enjoyed it.
NBN @ 111,a nd programmes were only sixpence as well.!!
Holic @ 103,how the other half live eh.!!
cheers
The Sweeper.

I am in fine actual/real health but your well wishes are very touching, thanks! I think the confusion was caused by a little bit of virtual banter with Trev relating to my current absence from The HoF & Tollie, which come to think of it, is pretty darned painful in real-life.

I won’t be there to see Chel$ea (2003) but hope to make a return well before the Xmas holidays. Home mid-week CL games are the most likley near-term candidates. Will keep you updated.

*Hums ‘We’ll Meet Again’ and contemplates a Tollie only visit to keep the withdrawal symptoms at bay*

The more I read into new/recent mobile standards/categories, the more I realise that you generally have no idea what you’re buying when you’re being a new phone.

I mean you might get the general idea about its capabilities, but there are so many different categories that unless you pay top dollar, I doubt you can actually reach the rates advertised by the networks.
Mobile phones are a very limiting factor.

what a bunch of goonerholics, am definitely enjoying myself. Can’t help but always come here before & after every match. While everything seems good, I’m jst still wondering why Shezz could behave like he had opiate before the game. Felt like throwing him out of the stadium at that point. As for OG, he may be tried on the left wing & let Pol go in the middle & let’s see what happens. Just an opinion.

All I could see on this borrowed (or was it commandeered) tablet was a 5-1 scoreline with obnoxious ads superimposed

Was able to watch MOTD but didn’t recognise the ‘experts’ description of the match from the highlights. It is clear that the team was playing as if they believed in themselves, including a revitalised Rambo with his late appearance

Now waiting for medical repatriation for better half who twisted her back last night. Italian emergency hospital was very efficient

I dont think that OG on the flank is an option, he lacks the pace to have any serious impact on the wing, hes typical target man and striker in to the box.

His link up play is on very high level too. He is doing everything right, good movement, good positioning, great runs, just lacks the goal and should Theo play it across to him from first touch instead of what he did, OG would already been on scoresheet by now. This lad will come good, just rushed two great chances, still think that once he scores his first the dam will open.

Good to see you back sir, my calculations were off the top of my head (not the smartest place on the planet at the best of times) and I stated that it would of covered at least three seasons.

I think it was about 50p to get in the schoolboys, but mostly I was in the Clockend which I believe cost 75p, but like you described in a post past, I too usually got in with two or three to a turnstile click meaning the admissionn fee would of been a lot less.

IMHO the prices today are beyond ridiculous, fueled by moral less agents and players greed, but that’s a discussion for another day.

Cheers Uply sir, no particular tipple at that moment, maybe accountable to the feel good factor that comes from seeing our club playing the free flowing beautiful game the way we love and know they can. Surely a performance like that would be enough to put a smile on the face of the most grinchiest of the BBB’s*.

*Excluding c-units from Le Groan.

Painfull stuff that vid Snir, but the message is indeed plain and simple.

We have a massive GK injury crisis. James Shea is our number 2 gk for the U21s, although he has put in some top-notch performances recently.
The U18s even had to use their gk coach on the bench and in the last match, an outfield player had to stand in when their normal keeper was injured.

Ollie @ #152 – Heh! I’m sure there’s a football song in there just waiting to get out 😀

Trev – Your ‘goalkeeping armageddon’ scenario that we have discussed many times is upon us…. and yet…. we are strangely calm with a choice of only Don Vito & Young Shea between the sticks for our first CL match of the new campaign. Credit to the back four and Bouldie, I guess?

The loan last year must of done Vito good, he was solid for the two games he deputised in and two clean sheets most probably have given him even more confidence. With our new, as an unit defending, team epos, he’ll be fine.

So Don Vito ” fine Italian clean sheets” Manonne.
Well, he has actually looked the better of the 2 goalies so far this year.
Let’s hope whoever is in goal is a highly paid spectator.
2 weeks without a game and now 2 in a four day period.
Come on Arsenal!

Everton are playing Newcastle off the park at Goodison. 1-0 (Baines) after 20 minutes and Newcastle have barely been past the half-way line yet. When the Toffees get their game going they are very good.

I had completely forgotten about Arsenes touchline ban. I can’t even remember what it was for, was it for saying the pitch in Milan was shit? As H2H says, there are far worse things going on but Septic Bladder is happy to divert attention by going after Arsene.

TS, I will be at Montpellier at home in November (and at Villa away the same week), maybe see you then?

In random order (cause that’s the way my brain works). Catalan, can never tell quite tell when those rugby chaps are doing something naughty…and the commentary was priceless. Fun, thanks for clearing that up about Woj and his ankle, explains his performance. Ollie, I take it your co-workers don’t drink here (smiles). Eandy hope you’ll be at the bar tomorrow, for the game (always enjoy your enthusiasm). cba, must say you exude a certain whimsical charm, cheers. And Cognac, fingers crossed for your lovely lady.